Planning for Tobacco Programs at the County Level

1
Planning for Tobacco Programs at the County Level

• Dr. Gary Palmer
• Dr. Bob Pearce
• Dr. Andy Bailey
• University of Kentucky

2
Cooperative Extension

• Strengths
• Established network of local offices
• Credibility with growers
• Unbiased
• Research based
• Responsive to grower issues?
• Concerns
• Tobacco companies in control
• Interaction welcomed?
• Company employed agronomists?

3
Future Role of Extension

• Diagnosis and recommendations
• We have skill and experience
• Diagnostic labs
• Knowledge of labels/residue concerns
• Knowledge of contract requirements?
• Develop and distribute new production technology
• Contract/Agreement evaluation?
• Mediate disputes???

4
Pesticide residues

• Off label uses
• Advice on specific rates or timings could be
  construed as a recommendation
• Detection of illegal residues could void contract
  rendering crop worthless
• Put the ball in the growers court
• Misuse of labeled pesticides
• MH
• Endosulfan (golden leaf, thiodan)
• Dithane, mancozeb

5
Meetings, Field days etc.

• Winter tobacco meetings
• How many planning to have one (or more)?
• Target audience
• Separate meetings
• Buyout details/money matters
• Production focus for growers
• Tobacco company sponsored meetings
• Compete?
• Participate?
• Offer to host?

6
On-farm test plots

• Add value to local programming
• Real world evaluation of new ideas
• No experimental quotas
• Incentive for grower participation?
• Genuine grower interest in test
• Fewer restrictions
• Fewer will be conducted
• Collection of valid data critical
• Better communication with grower
• More specialist involvement

7
Cooperative Extension and the Buyout

• A Lot of Uncertainty
• A Lot of Change
• A Lot of Concern
• A LOT of

Opportunity